Maybe you’ve heard the term “UIOLI” (use it or lose it) or something similar before. In the business world, this stems from the idea that next year’s marketing budget for your department will be cut if you don’t spend all your allowance for this year. This typically creates a spike in spending between October and December, but unfortunately, many people don’t use the budget wisely!

Have you ever considered the impact of word of mouth marketing on your business? It's important, even in a day when online business is dominated by the likes of SEO and sales funnels. It may be time to see what you can do about making sure that things spread around.

If you're wondering "what is word of mouth?" then you're in the right place. Read on as we cover the basics behind a technique which may end up being the keystone for your local business.

It’s hard to imagine Christmas without the tradition of sharing gifts. That said, have you ever wondered when this tradition began and why? How long have people been giving gifts to each other? Here’s some popular history on it’s origins:

Producing a typical 30-second ad for a local channel can set you back a lot. If you want them to reach a wider audience, the costs could easily run up a couple hundred thousand dollars. Same for print ads as well! What’s even worse is that if you commit to this, you’ll have to make them regularly to gain visibility. Why choose expensive advertising campaigns if you can get your message with effective and affordable promotional items? We list a few products that are affordable and effective:

Building a brand doesn’t always have to be a costly affair. While newspaper and television ads can work, they are often ridiculously expensive and not always successful. As a small or medium business trying to promote your brand, it makes more sense to look for affordable and effective ideas. We suggest personalized lanyards. The simple and humble office lanyard is a great way to advertise a business or brand. Here’s how:

You don’t have to wait until Christmas to tell clients and employees that you value them. Gifts can be given at any time of the year, especially when they’re least expecting it. But gift-giving isn’t as easy as it seems – it is a subtle art where the receiver should be as happy to receive it as you are sharing. Here are a few things that you should remember before giving gifts:

It hurts people the most when they do not feel valued. You could be a famous movie star, the president of a large company, a stay at home mother, or an ordinary consumer making a purchase – the need to be recognized and receive validation is common for everyone. Here are a few reasons you should give gifts:

It's tough to argue with the success of promotional products. Whether you want to make the most out of a conference or send someone a token of appreciation, branded products are a solid investment.

Based on our extensive experience as Canada's leading supplier of promotional items, we've put together a list of our ten most popular products.

You're shopping at your favorite supermarket and an employee offers you a sample of a chocolate bar. You try the bar and love it so much you decide to get one. Did you see what happened there?

They gave you something for free but, we know that wasn't the whole story. They gave you the free sample expecting you to want to buy the chocolate bar. Every time a store does this, they're using the law of reciprocity.

You can apply this to any business. It might come as a surprise. But, using it in marketing with promotional products can take your business all the way to the top. Want to learn more?

Are you looking for a unique way to advertise your business?

A sports team sponsorship with a local high school can be an effective way for you to spread the word about your company. That's because a local high school is well-known in your community and can help you develop a stronger reputation.

Read on to learn 4 ways that sponsoring a local high school sports team can help you market your company.